Tongs for handling glassware



Oct. 17, 1939. F. w. DUHAN .TONGS FOR HANDLING GLASSWARE F'iled Sept. l5, 1937 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 2,176,251 TONGS FOR HANDLING GASSWARE Frederick William Duhan, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application September 15, 1937, Serial N0. 164,048

15 Claims.

This invention relates to anew and improved construction of glassware handling tongs. adapted for use in mechanism for moving articles oi glassware from one place to another. Although shown in the accompanying drawing as a part of a conventional forming machine take-out mechanism, the tongs of the invention are not limited to such use. On the contrary, they are readily adapted for use in performing other of glassware handling functions, such as transferring parisons to blow molds or grasping and supporting the ware in a lehr stacker, or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide glassware handling tongs characterized by the absence of positive power means for closing the jaws. To this end, the jaws are closed, or moved to article engaging position merely by their own weight, or, in some cases, with the assistance of a like leaf spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide article engaging jaws whichfare maintained in their closed position`= by the weight of the supported article of glassware, and in which no positive power means are used to hold the jaws in engagement with the ware.

It is a. further object of the invention to provide tongs which are readily adjustable for use with differently sized articles of glassware. To this end, the jaw members of the tongs are in'- terchangeable with jaw members of other sizes,

so that the contour of the article engaging surfaces may be changed to correspond to the shape of the ware. Moreover, the supports for the jaw members may be shifted toward and away from each other to vary the space betweenthe supports, thereby to accommodate the dierently sized jaws and to vary the space between the article engaging surfaces of the jaws to accommodate diierently sized articles.

In the accompanying drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, but it must be understood that the drawings and the following description are illustrative only, since many changes from the embodiment disclosed will readily occur to oneskilled in the art.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the tongs of the present invention.

' Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end `elevation of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the tongs of the present linvention associated with a known type of take-out device, showing the manner in which the tongs cooperate with the other mechanisms.

In the past, it has been the standard practice in the art to use glassware engaging tongs which are closed about the neck of the glassware by air motors, cams, links and levers, heavy springs, or the like. Since considerable force is used to close the jaws, the slightly plastic ware which they engage is often damaged, if the jaws do not grasp the ware accurately, or if the jaws get out of adjustment or if the size of the ware varies slightly, With such positively closed jaws, small depressions are often made adjacent the neck nish, with the result that ythe ware is defective. `In some cases, the jaws even squash the nish and `make the bottle necks oval in shape, because of the excessive pressure applied in closing.

Conventional glassware handling tongs usually comprise jaws pivoted from above, mounted to swing downwardly and inwardly about a common pivotal axis to closed position. In accordance with the present invention, however, the jaws project inwardly from outwardly disposed spaced,

horizontal pivoting axes. They swing under their own weight downwardly and inwardly about their individual axes to closed position and drop down under the neck nish. They are held in closed position merely. by their own weight and. the weight of the glassware, assisted in some cases by a lightl leaf spring.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, a hanger I 0 is mounted for lateral movement in a horizontal plane between apick-up position A adjacent the forming machine or the like, and a discharge position B adjacent a' conveyor C which may lead to a lehr stacker or the like. The hanger I 0, in addition to its lateral movement, is reciprocated vertically at the pick-up and discharge positions. A known mechanism for giving the hanger this movement is shownin Figure 4, and will be briefly described below.

The hanger I 0 is provided at its lower end with a crosshead II, which may be in the form of a ilat plate, serving as a slide. 'I'he crosshead carries a pair of depending arms I2 and I2', slidably mounted thereon. A shaft I3 is journalled at I4 in a. depending boss I5 secured to the lower surface of the crosshead II. The shaft I3 is provided with oppositely disposed threads I6, Il at its opposite ends. The arms I2 and I2' are bored as at I8, I8 and the bores are provided with threads, complemental in pitch to thethreads I6, I1. One end of the shaft I3 may be squared as at I9, to receive a key, wrench, or the like. 0bviously, when the shaft is rotated in one direcposition, the downward movement of the abut-k ments 32 is arrested, with the results that thetion or the other, the arms` l2 and I2 will be caused to slide toward or away from each other along the crosshead l I.

Each arm terminates at its lower end in a cylindrical enlargement which'is bored at 2| to receive a pivot pin or bolt 22. Each bolt 22 serves to-support a jaw member 23. The jaw member 23 is biiurcated at its rear end and is provided ,with spaced bosses/24, 25.*through which the bolt 22 extends. A nut 25 may be used to hold the parts in assembled relation.

Each jaw member is provided with an integral, rearwardly and upwardly extending tail piece 21 which engages the arm I2 to limit the downward swinging movement ofthe jaw. The jaw proper comprises an inwardly projecting and upwardly inclined portion 28 and .a horizontal portion 29 terminating at its inner end and a. ware engaging edge 30. As shown in Figure 2, the edge of each jaw is formed on a concave line, to correspond with the contour of the ware to be A light leaf spring 3| may be secured to each arm to engage the outer surface of the tail piece 21, to urge the jaws to closed position.

Each jaw member is provided with an outwardly projecting lug 32 or the like, which serves as an abutment means by which the jaw member may be raised upwardly from the lower, article engaging position to the upper, release position. As shown in the drawing, the lug 32 is in the form of an outwardly projecting pin, but any equivalent construction may be substituted. The lugs 32 are adapted to cooperate with stationary abutment means 33 disposed adjacent the discharge position. Whenr the hanger I0 and the tongs supported thereby descend at the discharge :laws swing upwardly 'relative to the remainder of the tong structure. As a cnsequence, the

ware is released and drops down nto the takeout conveyor C.

' In Figure 4, the tongs of the present invention are shown in association with a known type of take-out. The hanger I0 is carried by a vertically movable piston 35, reciprocably mounted in a cylinder 33, supported forhorizontal sliding movement on ways 31.- The cylinder 35, or its supporting structure is adapted to bereciprocated inders 35 and 40 in such a manner that\ the hanger I0 and the tongs'supported thereby move horizontally toward the pick-up position A,

whereupon the piston 35 is depressed, to permitthe tongs to engage theI article tov be picked up. The piston 35 then ascends lifting the ware with it. 'I'he piston 39 then moves toward the left andthe ware is moved-to a position over the take-out 4conveyor C. The piston 35 again descends, and the lugs 32 associated with the jaws come in 'contact with the stationary abutments 33, to open the jaws and permit the ware todrop down on the conveyor.

Since it will be readily'apparent to one skilled 4 in the art how the air lines should be arranged and timed to eiect the desired'cycle o! operations of the cylinders, the lines andthe timer the desired vertical movements.

vention is not limited to use with an air operated' take-out, but may beemployed in a mechaniarresti are not disclosed herein. Moreover, any other means may be employed for imparting the desired movement to the hanger I0. For instance, the hanger may be supported by a laterally movable horizontally swinging arm which, at4 predetermined points in its lateral movement is given Thus, the inon the article. Thereupon, the jaws will swing.

inwardly-and downwardly to a position under the finish. 'I'his action will be accomplished by the weight of the jaws and will be assisted by the light'springs 3|. When the tongs are raised, the edges 30 will engage under the finish and the article'will be raised with the tongs. The tongs are maintained closed by the weight of the bottle and no positive force is used. Ii a somewhat over-sized article is engaged by the tongs, therefore, the force tending to close the jaws will be relatively slight, and the article will not be damaged, but it will be impossible for the jaws to lose'their grip on the article.

When the tongsandv the article supported thereby have been conveyed to the discharge position, the tongs will 'descend and the lugs or abutments 32 associated with the jaws will come in contact with the stationary abutment 33 whereby the continued downward movement of the jaws is prevented. As a result, they will be swung relatively upwardly until the edges 3D move outwardly from the neck finish, whereuponv the ware-will be released and permitted to ydro down onto the take-out conveyor. t

I- claim: r

v 1. A tongv assembly for use in va. glassware take-out apparatus oi the type including a laterally movable and vertically reciprocable hanger, and a crosshead secured. thereto, said tong assembly being adapted to be carried by the crosshead and comprising a pair of jaws pivoted about spaced parallel axes for swinging movement between a lower, ware engaging position and an upper, release position, means for-limiting the downward movement of the jaws at said lower position, and abutment means associated with said'jaws adapted to engage stationary abutment means* adjacent the ware discharging "position upon the downward movement of vertical reciprocation of the hanger to effect a\relativerupward swinging movement of the jaws from the ware Y Aengaging position to the release positionf/thereby to discharge the ware held by said jaws.

l'2. A tong assembly f orl use in a take-out apparatus of the class including a laterally and vertically movable-member, said assembly com? prising a pair oi spaced, parallel arms adapted i to Lbe mounted on said member and to project therefrom, a pair of jaws,v one pivoted to each of said arms and having their ware' engaging surfaces projecting towards each other, lsaid jaws being mounted for upward and outward swinging movement between a lower, ware engaging position and an upper, release position, and means for moving said jaws upwardly upon downward movement of said member at the discharge position to release the ware supported thereby.

3. For use in a take-out device forv glassware forming machines and the like of the type wherein a ware handling unit is moved laterally from the forming machine to a discharge position spaced therefrom, a tong structure comprising a vertically movable crosshead, a pair of spaced, parallel arms depending therefrom, jaws pivoted to the arms for upward and outward swinging movement from a lower ware engaging position to an upper discharge position and means associated with said jaws for engaging a stationary abutment adjacent the discharge position upon descent of said crosshead to swing the jaws upwardly to said release position to release the ware carried thereby.

4. In a take-out mechanism of the type wherein a member is adapted to be moved along a substantially horizontal path from a take-out position adjacent a forming machine to a discharge position over a conveyor and to be reciprocated vertically at said positions, a tong assembly adapted to be opened and closed at the discharge position, said tong assembly comprising a pair of inwardly projecting, upwardly and outwardly swinging jaws pivoted on outwardly disposed spaced parallel horizontal axes and having ware engaging surfaces facing each other, said jaws having abutment surfaces adapted to engage stationary abutment means upon downward reciprocating movement of said jaws adjacent the discharge position, to swing said jaws relatively upwardly and outwardly to release the ware held thereby.

5. Glassware handling tongs and means for opening the same comprising a laterally projecting crosshead anda carrier therefore, a pair of spaced slidably mounted arms projecting from the crosshead, means for positioning the arms at different points alongthe crosshead to vary the space therebetween, a pair of jaws projecting inwardly toward each other from outwardly disposed pivotal connections on said arms and mounted for swinging movement upwardly and outwardly from a ware grasping position to a release position, abutment surfaces on the jaws and means adjacent the ware discharge position adapted to be engaged by said abutment surfaces to swing the jaws upwardly and outwardly to release theware.

6. Glassware handling tongs comprising a laterally projecting crosshead and a carrier therefor, a pair of spaced slidably mounted arms projectlng from the crosshead, means for positioning the arms at different points along the crosshead to vary the space therebetween, a pair of jaws projecting inwardly from outwardly disposed pivotal connections on said arms, and mounted for swinging movement upwardly and outwardly from a. ware gripping position to a release position, and abutment surfaces, on the jaws adapted to cof operate with abutments adjacent the ware discharge position to swing the jaws upwardly and. outwardly to release the ware.

7. Glassware handling tongs adapted .to be associated with amovable member of a take-out ldevice or the like which includes means for moving the member laterally from a pick-up position j to a discharge position, said tongs comprising a crosshead supported thereon, a pair of slidably ymounted arms projecting from said crosshead, means for shifting the arms toward and from each other along the crosshead to vary the space i therebetween, 4pivotally mounted jaws on the arms projecting towards each other to engage and support an article of glassware therebetween, said jaws being mounted for swinging movement upwardly from a ware gripping position to a ware release position, each of said jaws having a laterally projecting lug associated therewith adapted to cooperate with abutment means positioned adjacent the discharge position to effect a relative upward swinging movement of the jaws to ware release position.

8. Glassware handling means comprising a substantially horizontal crosshead, a pair of arms having portions slidably engaging the crosshead, a shaft extending through the arms and having oppositely disposed screw threads engaging complemental threads associated with the respective arms, and a pair of inwardly projecting jaws pivotally mounted on said arms and mounted for upward and outward swinging movement from a ware supporting position to a release position. rotation of the shaft serving to shift the arms and jaws toward and from each other to vary the space between the jaws to accommodate articles of glassware of different diameters.

9. Glassware handling means comprising a substantially horizontal crosshead, a pair of arms slidably mounted on the crosshead, and a shaft rotatably connected to the crosshead and extending through the arms and having oppositely disposed screw threads engaging complemental threads associated with the respective arms, and a pair of inwardly projecting jaws pivoted on said arms and adapted to grasp articles of glassware therebetween, said jaws being removably mounted on the arms to facilitate substitution of diierently sized jaws for differently sized articles, rotation of said shaft serving to shift the arms toward and from each other to vary the space therebetween in accordance with jaws to be used and the articles of glassware to be handled.

10. Glassware handling means comprising a substantially horizontal crosshead, a pair of arms slidably mounted on the crosshead, a shaft rotatably connected to the crosshead and extending through the arms and having oppositely disposed screw threads engaging complemental threads associated with the respective arms, said arms each having at its outer end a pivot pin removably secured thereto, and a pair of inwardly projecting jaws pivoted on said pins and adapted to grasp articles of glassware therebetween, said jaws being removable upon removal of said pins to facilitate substitution of diierent- 'ly sized jaws for differently sized articles, rotation of said shaft serving to shift the arms toward and from each other to vary the space therebetween in accordance with the jaws to be used and the articles of glassware to be han- 11. A tong structure for handling glassware comprising spaced downwardly projecting arms and jaw members pivoted on the lower endsof the arms for upward and outward swinging movement from a lower ware supporting position to an upper release position, each of said members comprising an inwardly projecting article engaging portion and a tail piece adapted to engage the associated arm to limit the downward swinging movement of the jaw and to hold the same in article supporting position.

12.V A tong structure for handling glassware comprising spaced downwardly projecting arms and jaw members pivoted on the lower ends of the arms for upward and outward swinging movement from a lower ware supporting posi- 'tion tol an upper release position, each of said members comprising an inwardly projecting and upwardlygnclined portion terminating at its inoutwardly away from the supported ware.

13. Ina takeout apparatus for handling glassware ofthe class wherein a tong carrier is mounted for movement laterally between a pick-up position and a discharge position, and for movementvertically at each of said positions,the combination y with said carrier of tongs comprising jaws pro-- jecting inwardly i'rom outwardly disposed spaced pivoting axes and, having their ware engaging surfaces ,disDOSed atleast as high as said axesf said jaws being mounted to swing relatively upwardly and outwardly upon vcontact with the upper end'of an article of glassware upon descent of thetongs at the pick-up position and then to swing relatively downwardly and inwardly under the neck ilnish oi' the.article to grasp and sup-l port the ware upon ascent of the tongs.

14. In a take-out apparatus for handling glassware of the class whereinA a tong carrier is mounted for movement laterally between a pick-v up position and a discharge position, and ior movement vertically 'at each .of said positions. the combinationwith said carrier oi tongs comandati prising jaws projecting inwardly from outwardly disposed spaced pivotinglaxes and having their ware engaging surfaces disposed at least as high as said axes, said Jaws being mounted to swing relatively upwardly and outwardly uponcontact with the upper end of an article of glassware upon descent of the tongs at the piek-up position and then to swing relatively downwardly and inwardly under the neck finish of the article to grasp and support the ware upon ascent of the tongs.

' and stationary abutment means positioned adjacent the discharge position and adapted to engage the jaws and swing them relatively upwardly and outwardly upon' descent of the crosshead at the discharge position to release the ware-supported therein.

15. In a take-out apparatus of the class where- 1 in an article engaging tong structure is mounted for movement laterally between a pick-.up point and a discharge point and for raising and lowering movement at each of'said points, a tong assembly .comprising jaws projecting inwardly from outwardly disposed, spaced pivots, the Jaws being mounted to s'wing upwardly and outwardly v frman article engaging position to a release position, and stationary abutment means adjacent the discharge point positioned to ee the Jaws upon descent of the tong assembly to'swing the jaws upwardly and outwardly to release the Ware. y 

